Soup Week was last week, but that doesn't mean we're not still soup-crazed! Today we made soup using our sale rack margarita blender and something was just off. So we turned to the internet to find an appliance that would really help us next time we made a vegetable-based soup — and look what turned up! Is it a lower-priced American competitor to Thermomix, the European dream machine? More

Q: I got an immersion blender for Christmas. I don't really have any blender recipes beyond smoothies.

What should I make to take it out for its maiden blend?

Sent by Robin More

Whenever our food processor leaves chunks in a puréed soup or we don’t feel like hauling out the mixer to make whipped cream, we think about buying an immersion blender. We’ve viewed this handheld blender an unnecessary additional kitchen gadget for years, but now we’re starting to revise our opinion. More

Every year we test out new products and review old favorites. Here's a look back at 25 products we tried, tested, poked and prodded this year. From seltzer makers to juicers, and ice cream makers to the best spatula ever, here are some memorable tools, gadgets, and products.

PICTURED ABOVE
• 1 SousVide Supreme
• 2 Cuisinart ICE-21 Ice Cream Maker
• 3 DeLonghi Gelato Maker
• 4 Grid-Patterned Cooling Racks
• 5 KitchenAid Pasta Press Attachment More

Do you have a stand mixer? If you don't, it is probably on your standing wish list. Many people buy stand mixers this time of year (it is Christmas, after all!) so here are a few tips and questions for those of you picking out a stand mixer. Whether you're buying the ubiquitous KitchenAid or another brand of stand mixer, run through these questions and tips as you go about your mixer shopping. More

Winter is here, and the holidays are coming, and we want comfort food to feed a crowd. Best way to do that? The slow cooker!! Here are 10 recipes from our archives for easy, delicious, cold-weather food. Most of these recipes will handily feed a dinner crowd, or give you leftovers to freeze. And most use the most frugal cuts of meat, so they form the holy menu trinity of cheap, easy, and yummy. More

Want something spicy, hearty, and — above all — easy for dinner this week? Whip out your slow cooker and make this 5-ingredient (OK, 7, if you include salt and pepper!) green curry pork! It takes 15 minutes to set up, and will give you such tender, rich, and spicy pork curry. More

Since June, my husband and I have been without the use of a stovetop or proper oven. Instead, we've been skating by while we renovate our new place with just a few small appliances. A toaster oven, hot plate, an electric kettle and a new star of the stove-less world, an electric skillet and straight up, it saved Thanksgiving. More

Meet my new favorite kitchen appliance. A juicer is not a necessity (though some might insist otherwise!), but I'm definitely smitten with the Hurom Slow Juicer. Here's why I've replaced my old juicer with this one… More

Q: I just received a food processor as a gift and I'm psyched to try out my new gadget! I've always relied on blenders (too clunky!) or good old-fashioned muscle to help me out in the kitchen, and skipped over any recipe that called for a food processor to do the heavy lifting. Last night I made potato pancakes (5 pounds of potatoes grated!) and I'm eager to make more recipes that maximize the machine's potential.

Do you recommend any recipes you wouldn't dare attempt unless you had your trusty food processor by your side?

Sent by Kate More